Thursday March 28th, 2002

By Alan Baldwin

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has denied any rift between him and Ferrari over the Formula One team's decision to let only Michael Schumacher use their new car this weekend.

But Barrichello, who finally got to test the F2002 this month for the first time, made clear that for his home Grand Prix he would have preferred equal treatment to the four times World Champion.

"It's obvious that I would have liked to have had the new car because after four days testing in Barcelona, I felt the car was better in every respect," he said at a news conference on Thursday ahead of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.

"So when I knew that we were only bringing one (new) car to race in my home country at my racing track, it feels sad not to have it. But I accept it and as I've said, it's the best weekend of my year so I have to make full usage of the old car."

Ferrari used the old F2001 for the first two races of the season because of fears about the reliability of what is reported to be a radical new F2002 design, even if it looks similar to the old car.

Schumacher won the opening Australian Grand Prix and was third in Malaysia while Barrichello has yet to score a point.

One Version

The German said in a separate news conference that the new car was faster but Ferrari had only one version ready to bring to Brazil.

Italian newspapers nonetheless made much of Barrichello's reaction at a news conference for local reporters earlier in the week, when he suggested they ask Ferrari for an explanation about the decision.

The rumours reached a point where one questioner asked Barrichello on Thursday whether it was true that he had threatened to quit at the end of the season if he didn't get better treatment.

"No, I cannot confirm that," replied the Brazilian, used to questions about his second string status to Schumacher at Ferrari.

Last season, he made no secret of his disappointment and anger when asked to move over to let Schumacher through during the Austrian Grand Prix. But he insisted that was not the case on the eve of his 150th race start.

"I have no problems with Ferrari, I have no problems with anything. I'm entitled to have my opinion. I sit down with (technical director) Ross (Brawn) and (sporting director) Jean (Todt) and we talk.

"By no means am I a man of no opinion. I have my opinion, I race to win and sometimes you are happy and sometimes you are not happy. Right now I am a happy man at Ferrari."

Published at 20:09:00 GMT